Rollable pumping apparatus

ABSTRACT

A rollable pumping apparatus includes a collection vessel ( 4 ), an electrically operated delivery system ( 18 ) having a pumping device ( 20 ), a feed conduit connection member ( 22 ) and a delivery conduit connection member ( 24 ), through which liquid is fed into and is delivered out of the collection vessel ( 4 ), with the entire delivery system being held in a housing element releasably mountable on the collection vessel ( 4 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rollable pumping apparatus including a collection vessel, an electrically operated delivery system having a pumping device and a feed conduit connection member and a delivery conduit connection member through which liquid is fed into and is delivered out of the collection vessel.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the pumping apparatus of a type described above, liquid, in particular in form of a drilling sludge can be fed into the collection vessel and be delivered therefrom through both conduit connection members. The pumping apparatus of the above-described type can be used in a circuit for removing, cleaning and feeding back or in an open system for removing, intermediately storing and delivering further rinsing or cooling liquid. The rollability of the pumping apparatus provides for a convenient transportation of the pumping apparatus to an operational site.

German Publication DE 35 45 328 discloses an apparatus for separating a rinsing liquid from separated materials. To this end, the apparatus includes an overflow vat mounted on a rollable vessel and into which a feed conduits opens. Through the feed conduit, a rinsing liquid is fed from a drilling tool into the overflow vat in which the entrained solids are settled. In the overflow vat, a filtering element is arranged for additionally cleaning the rinsing fluid before it overflows in the vessel on which the overflow vat is mounted on. From the vessel, the cleaned fluid is pumped back to the drilling tool by a pump.

With such pumping apparatuses, for better its transportation and maintenance such as replacement of seals, often the attached conduits and connection elements such as unions, need to be removed. In addition, the pumps, control elements, and filter elements are also subjected to maintenance and replacement. Also, the related housing elements often can be accessed with much difficulty and are difficult to dismount.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a mobile pumping apparatus in which the above-discussed drawbacks are eliminated and a comfortable maintenance of the delivery system is insured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mobile pumping apparatus in which attachment and detachment of conduits is facilitated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the present invention, which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by securing the entire delivery system on a housing element which is releasably mountable on the collection vessel.

With the entire delivery system being mounted on a removable housing element, the pumping apparatus is divided in a maintenance-free portion and a maintenance-intensive portion, with the maintenance-intensive and maintenance-free portions capable of being separated for better handling, e.g., for a better access to certain elements of the delivery system. Thereby, maintenance and repair of the delivery system can be carried out very comfortably.

According to a particular advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the housing element is formed by a head mountable on the collection vessel. With the housing element being formed as a head mountable on the collection vessel, the conduit connection members or unions are so positioned that they are particularly easily accessible. Simultaneously, such housing element also serves as a cover for the collection vessel, which simplifies the construction of the pumping apparatus.

It is advantageous when the housing element is formed as a hood, which provides for a particular easy access to the delivery system received therein.

Advantageously, the pumping device has a feed pump connected with the feed conduit connection member and a delivery pump connected with the delivery conduit connection member. Thereby, a very compact pumping apparatus is obtained in which all of the pumps for feeding liquid to the collection vessel and delivery therefrom are integrated. In this way, the pumping apparatus includes all of the necessary components for providing a water circuit for a drilling tool, independent of other components. In addition, feeding of a liquid to the pumping apparatus can take place independent from delivery of the liquid.

Advantageously, an overflow vessel is located in the collection vessel. The delivery pump pumps liquid out of an overflow region formed between an outer wall of the overflow vessel and an inner wall of the collection vessel. Thereby, the solids, which are entrained with the liquid, can be settled in the overflow vessel. In this way, the liquid delivered by the delivery pump is at least partially cleaned.

Advantageously, the delivery system includes control electronics for the pumping device and which is also arranged in the housing element. This insures a better operation of the pumping device, with the control electronics being well protected by being located in the housing element.

Advantageously, a lever sensor is provided, and the control electronics controls the pumping device in accordance with signals generated by the level sensors. This insures a particularly economical operation of the delivery pump.

Advantageously, the delivery system includes a filtering device that retains solids during pumping of the liquid out of the pumping apparatus. The filtering device can be removed, together with the delivery system and the housing element, from the remaining portion of the pumping apparatus. This insures a particularly good cleaning and replacement of the filtering device.

The novel features of the present invention, which are considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional advantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Single FIGURE shows a partially cross-sectional view of a rollable pumping apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A rollable pumping apparatus 2 according to the present invention which is shown in the drawings can be used in a circuit or a delivery system with intermediate storage of a waste treatment system such as a waste water channel for handling rinsing or cooling liquid of a drilling system, not shown.

The pumping apparatus 2 has a cylindrical collection vessel 4. On the bottom 5 of the collection vessel 4, there are provided rollers 6 and support feet 7 which provide for support or rolling of the collection vessel 4, i.e., of the entire pumping apparatus 2 over a constructional component U. With the use of a handle 8 the collection vessel 4 can be conveniently rolled up to a site of its use and be then secured there. A separate housing element in form of a head 10 is held above an opening 12 of the collection vessel 4 remote from the bottom 5 of the collection vessel 4.

For holding the head 10 in place, there are provided holding means 14 that secures the support 16 of the head 10 to the collection vessel 4. The holding means 14 can be formed, e.g., by buckles that can be released and closed without using any tool. The holding means 14 can also include a hinge, not shown, that would provide for pivoting of the head 10 away from the collection vessel 2.

A delivery system 18 is held on the head 10. The delivery system 18 includes a pumping device generally designated with a reference numeral 20, a union-shaped feed conduit connection member 22, and a union-shaped delivery conduit connection member 24. The feed conduit connection member 22 and the delivery connection member 24 are connected respectively, with a feeding pump 26 and a delivery pump 28 of the pumping device 20.

The delivery system 18 further includes an electrical connection device 30 with control electronics 32 and connected with both the feeding pump 26 and the delivery pump 28. The pumps 26 and 28 and the electrical connection device 30 are secured on the support 16 of the head 10 and are closed with a hood 34 placed on the support 16 and removably held thereon. In this way, the delivery system 18 is arranged almost completely between the support 16 and the hood 34. The connection members 22, 24, with which a feeding conduit 36 and a delivery conduit 38 are connected, respectively, a tubular outlet element 40 projecting from the feed pump 26 into the collection vessel 4, and a tubular inlet element 42 projecting from the delivery pump 28 into the collection vessel 4, all partially project out of the hood 34 or from the support 16.

During the operation, a fluid in question is fed into the collection vessel 4 in the direction shown with arrow Z through the outlet element 40. The fluid is delivered from the collection vessel 4 in the direction shown with arrow A through the inlet element 42. Both pumps 26, 28 can be turned on and off by the control electronics 32. To this end, e.g., a level sensor 49 can be provided and which either generates a signal at a predetermined level of liquid in the collection vessel 4 or generates a continuous signal that is communicated to the control electronics 32.

In this way, liquid can be pumped by a feed pump 26, e.g., from a drilling system, through the feed conduit 36, the feed connection member 22, and the outlet element 40 into the collection vessel 4 and be stored there for some time. When the liquid reaches a predetermined level, the level sensor 44 generates a signal that is communicated to the control electronics 32 which actuates the delivery pump 28. The pump 28 pumps the liquid through the inlet element 42 out of the collection vessel 4 through the delivery connection member 24 and the delivery conduit 38, e.g., into a waste disposal system, not shown, such as a waste water channel.

In addition, the pumping apparatus 2 can be provided with means for at least partially cleaning the delivery liquid. E.g., a filtering device 46 can be provided on the inlet element 42 and which retains solids when the pump 28, which can be formed as a compression pump, pumps the liquid out of the collection vessel 4. Thereby, the pumping apparatus 2 can operate in a circuit in which liquid, e.g., from a drilling system, is pumped by a feed pump 26 into the collection vessel 4 and is cleaned there before being pumped again by the delivery pump 28 back to the drilling system where it can be used again.

In order to increase the separation output of solids in the pumping apparatus 2, an overflow vessel 48, which is shown with dash lines, can be provided in the collection vessel 4. The overflow vessel 48 forms an overflow region between its outer wall 50 and an inner wall 52 of the collection vessel 4 and in which only one filtering device 46 is provided in a single inlet 42 a.

With the later arrangement, the liquid that flows out of the outlet element 40, firstly, into the overflow vessel 48, and, in particular, heavy solids partially settle in the overflow vessel 48. The pre-cleaned liquid flows into the overflow region 54 and is pumped out therefrom, in a manner described above, through the inlet element 42 a, is pumped out of the collection vessel 4.

Though the present invention was shown and described with references to the preferred embodiment, such is merely illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as a limitation thereof and various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore not intended that the present invention be limited to the disclosed embodiment or details thereof, and the present invention includes all variations and/or alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A rollable pumping apparatus comprising a collection vessel (4); an electrically operated delivery system (18) including a pumping device (20), a feed conduit connection member (22) and a delivery conduit connection member (24), through which liquid is fed into and is delivered out of the collection vessel (4); and a housing element on which the entire delivery system is held and which is releasably mountable on the collection vessel (4).
 2. A rollable pumping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing element is formed by a head (10) which closes the collection vessel (4).
 3. A rollable pumping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing element is formed by a hood (34).
 4. A rollable pumping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pumping device (20) comprises a feed pump (26) connected with the feed conduit connection member (22) and a delivery pump (28) connected with the delivery conduit connection member (24).
 5. A rollable pumping apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an overflow vessel (48) located in the collection vessel (4) and wherein the delivery pump (26) pumps liquid out of an overflow region (54) formed between an outer wall (50) of the overflow vessel (48) and an inner wall (52) of the collection vessel (4).
 6. A rollable pumping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delivery system (18) further includes control electronics (32) for the pumping device (20).
 7. A rollable pumping apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a level sensor (44), and wherein the control electronics (32) controls the pumping device (20) in accordance with signals generated by the level sensor (44).
 8. A rollable pumping apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a filtering device (46) for at least partially cleaning a delivery liquid. 